A/N- Sorry for the long delay, everyone. The other day I finished what I thought was the next chapter to this story, but when I went to post it, I realized that I had actually just re-written chapter 9. I was one very perturbed author that day. Hopefully chapter 11 will be up soon (but you all know me well enough to know that it may be some time before it is up!). I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
Disclaimer- No, unfortunately I do not own any of the wonderful characters in this story (other than the one's stated in all the other disclaimers). They are the property of the brilliant Tamora Pierce. The plot, however, is all from my very own, slightly crazy mind. It's mine, I tell you. All MINE! HAHAHAHAHA! I also claim rights to the cherry tart that is a guest star in this story. And unfortunately, I also don't own the ever-popular line "NEVER FEAR, RAOUL IS HERE!". That belongs to BrittyWeasley.
Loving My Best Friend
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Previously:
The rest of the Own would be arriving any time now. Sure enough, a group of men who had seen Raoul's poster walked into the room. Dom didn't notice them, but soon there would be so many more of his "friends" that he'd have to be stupid not to notice them all.
Well, I thought, crossing my arms over my chest as another group of men came in, Let the games begin!
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Chapter 10:
Celebrations
I looked around. Slowly, the Jugged Hare was filling up as more and more people poured through the doors. Dom, still seemingly oblivious to the extra bodies in attendance, was laughing with a group of his friends.
Raoul came up beside me. "Dom seems to be enjoying his party, doesn't he?"
I scowled at him. "Sir, do you know what he'll do to me if he notices everybody?" If he notices… I thought wryly, He couldn't miss them if he tried! I motioned to the tankard Dom was holding. "With any luck, he'll get so drunk that he won't remember any of this."
Suddenly, Dom was looking around the room. He excused himself from his group and started to walk towards the table Raoul and I occupied.
"Is he drunk enough yet?" asked Raoul, and he got up and hurried away from the table.
I stood up and was about to yellat him to come backwhen Dom reached the table. Hastily, I sat down and tried to look casual. Apparently, it didn't work very well.
"Neal, are you all right? You're shaking like mad."
I gave a lopsided grin and nodded as Dom sat down beside me. Inwardly, I was wondering why I was still standing.
"So I see Lord Raoul has been busy," he remarked, nodding at the room full of people.
Oh Mithros, I thought, here it comes. "Dom, I swear, I had nothing to-" I stopped, taking in what I had heard. "Wait, did you say Raoul has been busy?"
"Well, I just assumed that this was the work of Raoul," he replied, turning to look at me.
I started to laugh.
Dom stared at me for a moment. "Meathead, are you sure you're all right? Or shall I get Uncle Baird?"
"No, no," I said, feeling like a great weight had been lifted off of my chest, "I'm fine. How did you know it was him?"
"Just a lucky guess." He grinned. "Meathead, you thought I was going to blame you, didn't you?"
"Of course not," I replied, trying to sound truthful, "I just, well…"
Dom out-right laughed this time. "You've always been a terrible liar, Neal. So that was why you were acting so jumpy this morning?"
Giving up the act, I grinned back. "Yes, well, I was afraid that if you found out you'd be angry."
"Oh, I'm not angry, Meathead. Just because you're sometimes a meathead doesn't mean that I always think you are behind things."
I made a face. "I wish Yuki and Kel had that same outlook on things." Crossing my arms, I continued, "They both think that this mayhem is of my doing. And now they're both refusing to speak to me."
"Well, don't worry. I'll explain what happened to them," Dom reassured me. "But first," he continued, grinning mischievously, "I think we need to give Raoul a taste of his own medicine for what he put you through."
I grinned back. "Just what did you have in mind?"
"You'll see." He got up from the table. "Wait here."
He returned a moment later, deep in conversation with my former knight-master, Lady Alanna.
"Dom, I'm not sure I can do that."
"Lady," I said, as she jumped noticing me for what seemed like the first time, "I happen to know that you helped Raoul make those signs. You owe us this favor, whatever it is Dom has in mind."
"I didn't know what I was doing!" she growled, bristling, "He tricked me!"
"Then you have just as much reason as us to want revenge on him," said Dom.
For a moment, she looked uncertain. Then a determined look crossed her face. She rolled up her sleeves and walked into the crowd, calling back over her shoulder, "Stay here."
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We waited for 30 minutes before Dom was forced to accept the invitations from various groups to come and join them. When he left, I got up, searching the room for someone I knew. I found Numair and my father sitting at a table a little ways away.
"I see that you're still alive and well, Neal!" exclaimed my father as I sat down at their table.
"Yes," I said, "As it happens, Dom had guessed that it was Raoul's doings all along, and he wasn't mad at all." I turned to Numair. "Where's Daine tonight?"
"Oh, there was a sick horse back at the palace she had to attend to. When I left, she said everything was going well and it shou-"
A roar of laughter interrupted Numair. We all turned to see what the commotion was.
"Great Mother Goddess…" groaned my father.
I stood up, my mouth hanging open.
In the center of the room, on top of a table, was Lord Raoul.
And he was dancing.
"Pretty good revenge, huh, Meathead."
I nodded as Dom moved to stand beside me, his arms crossed over his chest, a giant grin on his face.
"What did you do to him?" I asked. As we watched, Raoul started to sing, playing some sort of invisible instrument.
"I didn't do it. Alanna did. But I don't know how. Considering his feelings against spirits, he can't be drunk." Dom laughed. "Mithros, he has a horrible voice. Almost as bad as you, Meathead."
I scowled. "You just don't know how to appreciate good musical talent."
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Later that evening, when Raoul had been pulled off of the table and everyone was feeling slightly inebriated, I decided that it was time to give a toast to the Groom-to-be.
I stood up on my chair and attempted to get the rowdy group to give me their attention. "Everyone," I said. No one gave me much notice.
I spoke up, "Excuse me, could I have everyone's attention please?"
Still they ignored me. Growing impatient, I yelled, "Everyone quiet!"
At the sound of my scream, the men and Alanna turned to face me. I glared at them. "Okay," I began, "As you all know, we're here to night to celebrate Dom's last night of freedom! Believe me, Dom, it is your last night of being free. Look at Yuki and I." Chuckles and assents filled the room. I continued, looking at Dom, "When you and Kel started going out, I must admit that I was skeptical that it would work. And, in some ways, I was also a little afraid that it would work. Kel is like my little sister. I wanted the best for her, and I didn't want anything to happen that might hurt her."
I looked around the room. "But then I realized how stupid I was being. When we were children, Dom was my protector. He also prevented me from becoming more of a Meathead than I already was." I grinned as more laughter filled the room. "I realized that he was the best thing for Kel, contrary to my previous fears. I would trust Dom with my life. I knew that I could trust him with my best friend.
"The moments following their engagement were crazy at times, and I'm honestly surprised that we all made it through that time alive. But all in all, they're memories I'll remember for the rest of my life.
"So I ask you all to raise your glasses and give a toast to a wonderful squad leader, friend, and person," I raised my glass and everyone copied me, raising their glasses into the air. "To Dom."
The words rang through the hall as everyone spoke as one. "To Dom." After they had drained their glasses, I spread my arms, looking at the finally quiet group. "Now, do you people really call this a party? This is Dom's last night as a single man! Let's send him off in style!"
Loud cheering erupted as everyone jumped up, and the group was back to its rowdy old self. From my perch above the crowd, I could see that Raoul was back on top ofthe table, dancing.
"That was a great speech, Meathead," said Dom as I jumped down off of my chair.
"I try," I replied, pouring myself some more beer from the barrel.
Before I knew what was happening, Dom had his arms around me. "I love you, Neal," he told me, his voice slightly slurred.
Awkwardly, I patted him on the back, unsure of what to do. "Uh, yes. Well, the same to you," I muttered peeling him off of me. I looked at him closely. "You're drunk, aren't you?"
He grinned foolishly.
I made a face. "Ah. Well, what more damage can be done?" I poured him another beer and left him to drink it as I wandered off into the crowd. I found Alanna leaning against a wall by herself.
"That was quite the speech, Queenscove. I felt myself getting rather teary-eyed for a while there."
"Well, I remember the tear-jerker you gave at Buri and Raoul's wedding," I retorted, scowling.
"Don't get your loincloth in a twist, Neal, I was only kidding with you." She crossed her arms. "I can't believe Kel and Dom are getting married. It was bad enough when you got married. But Kel- she's a full five years younger than you!" She grimaced. "It makes me realize how old I'm getting."
I put on a mock-serious voice. "Yes, well, you had to face the truth sometime."
Alanna shoved me. "Shut up, Queenscove." She grinned and nodded at something on the other side of the room. "Looks like your cousin is having a good time."
I looked. Dom was drinking beer, straight from the barrel. He was kneeling, his head upturned to the spat as beer flowed out of it into his mouth and all over the floor.
I sighed and looked at Alanna. "I guess this means the party is over."
She let out a bark of laughter. "Yes, I suppose it does. It's too bad, though. This was a very entertaining evening." She moved away from the wall. "Don't worry about this lot, Neal. I'll take care of them. You just worry about getting your cousin home."
I bid Alanna goodnight and dragged Dom away from the beer barrel and out the door. Overall, I thought, as we left the Jugged Hare, It was a fairly good bachelor party. On the way out, we passed Raoul, who was attempting to do handstands on the table and failing miserably. I grinned and steered Dom up the path towards the palace.
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"I love ya, Neal, I really do," slurred Dom as I helped him to his bedroom.
"Of course you do," I replied, depositing him on his bed. I looked at him, sitting there grinning like an idiot. "You're a mess," I muttered, helping him get his beer-stained tunic off. When it was finally off, he giggled and fell back onto the pillows.
I sighed and pulled his boots off. "You are going to have a terrific hangover tomorrow," I told him as I placed the boots on the floor.
I was answered with a snore.
I scowled. "Well, I'm glad to know my efforts are appreciated. Good night, Dom."
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After that, I went home feeling very wary, knowing that I couldn't hide from Yuki any longer. I walked into our rooms, first making sure there was no sign of my wife anywhere, and went toward the bedroom, pulling my tunic off as I walked.
"Neal."
I froze, half naked in the middle of the room, tensing myself for the oncoming punch I knew must be coming. But instead of a blow, her hand lay gently on my arm.
I looked at her, wide-eyed and stiff, out of the corners of my eyes.
"Dom told Kel and I that he thought Raoul was the one who put those signs up," she said softly, "I am so sorry for blaming you." She moved to bury her face against my chest, her arms wrapped around my back. "Can you forgive me?"
I felt my body relax into her embrace. "Of course," I whispered, stroking her hair. She hugged me tighter and then looked up into my face, a mischievous look on her face. The next thing I knew, we were both on the bed and, well…
Let's just say I'm glad she had that little golden charm on…